ASTON VILLA boss Carla Ward admitted a to “horrible mistake” in fielding ineligible player Noelle Maritz which could knock them out of the League Cup.

Defender Maritz was brought off the bench at half-time in Villa’s 7-0 rout over Sunderland on Wednesday with the score at 3-0 when she stepped onto the pitch.

Maritz joined Villa from Arsenal in January but had previously made three appearances for the Gunners earlier in the competition.

The Football Association has referred the matter to an independent tribunal for “an alleged breach of Cup Rule 8.19.”

Villa’s comfortable victory meant they finished at the top of Group A and sealed their place in the quarter-finals, ahead of Sunderland in second, but their future in the competition now depends on the decision of the tribunal.

Ward admits conversations have taken place to make sure this does not happen again.

She told a press conference: “As a club we understand there has been a horrible mistake, quite honestly, and there has been some internal conversations and investigations on how this has happened.

“We have to take a collective responsibility on what is a horrible moment and we have to ensure we get the right processes in place that this doesn’t happen again.”

Aston Villa reached the quarter-finals stage in last season’s competition and were aiming to go further this season but Ward admits they will accept any punishment that now may come their way.